From Insight to Impact, Part 2: Applying Design Principles
Do you have an idea for improving learning or education and want practical tools to help shape, test, and refine it?
Join InnovED for an in-person MicroLab focused on applying design thinking to education improvement ideas. This 90-minute session will help participants move from understanding a challenge to shaping, testing, and refining possible solutions.
đź“Ť This event will take place at Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), 252 Bloor Street West, Room 12-199, Toronto, ON.
IN THIS MICRO-LAB
Bring your idea, concept, initiative, or education challenge as we dive into the design thinking process and learn how to move from ideation to action through a series of guided, collaborative, and hands-on activities. Together, we’ll explore:Â
- The critical intersections of Systems Thinking and Design Thinking
- A range of design principles and frameworks to develop and test of education innovation ideas
- Various models and tools to support solution prototyping, feedback, and iteration
- Collaborative ideation with peers to refine ideas for feasibility, scalability, and relevance within real contexts
Whether you attended Part 1 or are joining the series for the first time, this micro-lab will provide practical strategies to help you better understand the challenge you are addressing, test assumptions, and strengthen your approach.
WHAT YOU’LL GAIN
By the end of this session, you’ll leave with:Â
- A clearer understanding of how to apply key design thinking principles and frameworks to your work
- Exposure to practical design thinking tools and strategies to qualify, prototype, and iterate education solutions
- Tools to support effective learning experience design and the development of scalable, learner-centered solutions
- Perspectives on how to address educational challenges from a strengths-based perspective
- Connections with a peer network of education entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs, and innovators committed to education improvement
DO I NEED TO BRING AN IDEA?
You do not need a fully formed solution to participate. Bring an idea, initiative, learning experience, education challenge, or learner ned that you would like to explore.
RESERVE YOUR SPOT
Space is limited to 20 participants. Register to confirm your participation.
Registered micro-lab participants will also have the option to stay afterward for an InnovED Social from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. This casual gathering will offer an opportunity to continue the conversation, make connections across education and learning sectors, and learn more about the InnovED Network of Practice.
Please reach out to InnovED at OISE Continuing and Professional Learning if you have any questions about registration: innoved@utoronto.ca.Â
Date & Time:
July 16th, 2026
5:00 pm
Category:
InnovED Micro-Lab
Type:
In-Person Event
Price:
Free
Subject Matter Experts
Samantha Presutto, Curriculum and Learning Innovation Specialist
Samantha oversees the design and continuous improvement of professional learning solutions for education professionals, edupreneurs, and system leaders at OISE Continuing & Professional Learning. An OISE Master of Teaching graduate and former elementary teacher, she has over 10 years of experience in K-12 and post-secondary education. She has also led instructional teams at the University of Toronto Faculty of Engineering and the Royal Ontario Museum.
Shareef Al-Shareef, InnovED Network Host
Shareef is an educator and academic professional with extensive experience in language and K-12 education. He has served as a subject matter expert for edtech companies and universities, and as a university-level educational project manager. His expertise centers on curriculum design, instructional innovation, and learning solutions.